The Ottawa free trader., 1887-09-10
AN ALASKAN POTLATCH
How tho Aux and SItka Indians ADJUST
Their Tribal Differences.

On Sunday last I've canoes Of S!tEa Indians
arrived ut tie AUX village, jnst above town.
IL was tho occasion Of no little excitement
among the Auk., for the Sitl.anS, as j. usual
upon such visits, made demand OF 10
blankets as Il remuneration for injuries n
member of their tribe had received two years
ago while engaged in Il cut aud slash witA an
AUX Indian, IN which the SitGau got dccid'
cliy the worst Of the battle. The Auks re-
fused 10 acrcde 90 tho demand, the result Of
which was q general go-as-youplc IN
which Eniy tool; n promincn, part as set
rial, Of the dispute During the melee ono Of
tlo Auks received severe cut on the hand,
mon which hc SCI NJ q howl demanding pay
from tho Sitaau3 Tor tho wound hc had re-
cnycd a, thc!g laul,. 1t now l".uG stand
or, IN that muior5 of both tribes had re-
co.yoi injuries orc from tHe other, peace was
declared, proYidmg tho AuE, would tender 70
their visitors u grand potiatrh UcaNt "nd
duucD. The Auts, who ave weaker tine
than tap ..jEau., consented, ana accordingly
on Wednesday evening last the ball was
Orencd Aboutuace u year the S,tEans come
over ani run a uiulf on their weaker neigh
tors. during which they make love TO their
most buyom s!aaws aul gorge Themselves
unit, tho lardcg5 of thcr hosts are wei! nigh
exhausted.
Upon the evening Of the dance the whites
Of Juneau were Informed OF the occasion and
requested to come as spectators. The band
boys, for thcuoyelty of the thing, determined
to screnalo tho sQas Of the forest and open mp
their ball in u style that Mr.. Lo had never
seen the like Of before. Accordingly the
band and white spectators formed the line
Of march at the outskirts of tho village
and, 20 the tune of "PrisOner's Hope
and Marching Through Georgia" marched
up through the village, coming 10 II halt in
front Of Chief Cow-ec'S residence. Although
the odor Of dried salmon and seal grease
somewhat cholicd the players, they managed
to finish the strain. The Old chief gave them
Il warm welcome and extended to the band
the great honor Of leading forth thc dancers,
who were already coNtumcl and ready The
band again formed the line OF march, with
the war chief, Cow Elcck, il 'front.' es drum
major, aud about twenty-five Indian dancers,
hidcously painted and dressed in costumes III
imitation of tie bear. fox, eagle, swan, goose
and other animals, interspersed throughout
With bits OF bright co,oring, bringing up the
rear
The procession came 10 a stop in front OF
the la!l, snake cabin some 20 by 20 feet,
Upon the floor inside, packed Us close n sar-
dimes in a box, sat men, women and children.
Two rows OF squGvS occupy the front, who
Ia uerlcCt tune and with powerful exercise Of
their MuCa sing n chorus % tho Chant OF the
dancers. At n given signal from the chief,
who acts as floor manager, tie music strikes
up; then there follows Il flourish of swan
wings, md the dancers commence singing
and dancing The excitement gradually in
creascs until they fairly howl, some barking
like dogs, some growing like bears. They
grin and gnash their teeth, and comfort their
bodies in all shapes that their joints and
muscular development will admit OF. Sweat
bcgins to ooGc from every pore in their
bodies. One strives TO oU.,!o the other, FOR ho
is considered the hest dancer who can howl
the loudcst, grin the iicrccSt and comfort the
most. After the first set is finished n bucket
Of water is passed around, from which each
dancer takes an enormous pull, sll drinking
on. Of the bucket, and after about minutes
rest the same performance above described
is gone through with. Alaska Free Press.